Ferritin
Also reported as: Serum ferritin
The body's iron storage protein, and the best single indicator of total iron stores — but also an acute-phase reactant.
Ranges differ by sex; many labs use 15–200 ng/mL for women and 30–400 for men.
Symptoms of iron insufficiency are common below 50 ng/mL even with normal haemoglobin, while metabolic associations appear above roughly 200.
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Where the thresholds sit
| Band | Range (ng/mL) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deficient | < 30 | — |
| Low | 30–50 | Often symptomatic despite a 'normal' report. |
| Optimal | 50–150 | — |
| High | 150–300 | — |
| Elevated | > 300 | Investigate haemochromatosis, liver disease or inflammation. |
Why it matters
Iron has a U-shaped relationship with health. Low ferritin causes fatigue, poor exercise tolerance and hair loss long before anaemia shows on a full blood count. High ferritin, meanwhile, is associated with insulin resistance and oxidative stress, and in men and post-menopausal women it often reflects accumulation with nothing to offset it.
What raises it
- Inflammation of any kind — this is the critical confounder
- Alcohol and fatty liver disease
- Haemochromatosis
- Frequent red meat intake and iron supplementation
- Metabolic syndrome
What lowers it
- Menstruation
- Blood donation
- Gastrointestinal blood loss
- Coeliac disease
- Vegetarian and vegan diets
- Endurance training
How to move it
- 1Always interpret ferritin alongside hs-CRP. Inflammation raises ferritin, so a normal-looking value in an inflamed person can hide real deficiency.
- 2If low, find the cause before supplementing — unexplained iron deficiency in a man or a post-menopausal woman needs investigation, not a supplement.
- 3Take iron with vitamin C and away from tea, coffee and calcium.
- 4If high with no inflammation, ask about haemochromatosis genetics. Blood donation is the simplest treatment.
What moves this marker
Interventions on this site with evidence behind them for this specific marker. None of them replaces working out why yours is where it is.
What makes a single reading misleading
- The single most confounded marker on a routine panel — it rises with any inflammation regardless of iron status.
- Transferrin saturation adds a great deal when ferritin is ambiguous.
- Endurance athletes often run low from a combination of foot-strike haemolysis and inflammation.
Sources
Read next
Educational only. Reference ranges are not diagnostic thresholds and this page cannot account for your medical history, medication or symptoms. Discuss any result that concerns you with a qualified clinician. See our medical disclaimer.